The best restaurants in Camberwell

Tune into some of the best Turkish cooking in London at FM Mangal, a Camberwell institution that's set over multiple floors and serves a comprehensive array of flavoursome Turkish fare, from falafel and kebabs to kofte, moussaka, grilled fish, and more. With its spacious dining area and sharing-ready feasts, it's a popular Camberwell spot for group meals, celebrations, and other larger gatherings.

Mondo Sando is one of the city's best-known sarnie shops, loved not just for the frankly ridiculously sized sandwiches, but the diverse international influences and offbeat options that make it a winner regardless of your culinary preferences. Think braised yuba skin and candied chillies, fried aubergine with lemon zest and rocket, or mortadella, stracciatella, and pistachio cream. In addition to the OG residency at the Grove Tavern, you can also grab your sandos and drinks at the younger Cafe Mondo down the road.

Head to the Camberwell location of Theo's Pizzeria for some of the most authentic Neapolitan pizza around. Approved by chefs and casual punters alike, this homey Camberwell restaurant, complete with breezy patio for slices al fresco, cooks the sourdough bases in a wood-fired oven, topping them with classic choices like margherita or anchovies. Italian wines and a concise cocktail selection round out the offer.

Previously hailed for serving one of best Sunday roasts in London, The Camberwell Arms has kept up the good work and remains a true bastion of British hospitality – a local's local, if you will. The gastropub's menu changes daily, drawing on European influences to serve dishes like chard & ricotta rotolo or Hereford onglet. That the roast dinners are a bit of a Camberwell rite of passage goes without saying.

When it comes to Ethiopian cuisine, the unassuming Zeret Kitchen restaurant in Camberwell is widely regarded as one of the finest in London, regardless of whether you're a newcomer or an old hand at mopping up nourishing lentil stews with spicy kategna breads or biting into fragrant, slow-cooked beef cubes. The sharing platter for two is especially convenient if you're looking to experience the breadth of Ethiopian cooking.

Launching in 2008, Silk Road hit viral popularity before that was even really a thing, with Londoners going bonkers for the then seldom-seen Uyghur spin on Chinese cuisine. The latter has since established a firm foothold in the capital, diminishing the need for a trek to the cult Camberwell restaurant, but Silk Road is still going strong. Come for the traditional charcoal-grilled skewers or hand-pulled noodles, with a slice of 2010s internet nostalgia on the side.

Established 15 years ago and counting, this relaxed Camberwell eatery has become a neighbourhood fixture with its menu of enticing street food from Vietnam. Ranging from crusty, well-stuffed banh mi baguettes and refreshing noodle salads to aromatic bowls of pho and hearty grilled pork rice plates, it offers a simple dining area, a few outdoor tables, and both takeaway and catering, making it fit for a variety of occasions.

Nandine champions the rich traditions of Kurdish gastronomy. The menu features flaky borek pastries, a colourful assortment of hot and cold mezze, and succulent kebabs, but it's the signature house falafel that usually makes the headlines, cleverly crafted from lentils rather than the usual chickpeas. It's available as a grilled wrap, stacked in a burger, or piled high on a generous sharing platter. The restaurant has a simple yet pleasant interior with whitewashed brick walls, and serves Middle Eastern brunch fare on weekends as well.